There are cases in which Romanian tourists risk stinging fines abroad because they are not aware of the laws of the respective countries. This also happens in Greece, the country that attracts Romanians as a magnet.
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In full summer season in Greece, the country that is a true magnet for Romanians, tourists find out, some of them right on their own skin, as a seemingly trivial mistake and that could be easily prevented can bring them a stinging fine and break their vacation.
A Romanian who is going to spend his vacation in Greece heard about this issue, but because the information that came to him was rather contradictory, he wanted to find out the correct answer on a Facebook group dedicated to Romanians who do their holidays on Greek soil.
Where can the problems come from
“I also have a question for those who went by car that is equipped with a tow hook. Have you had problems with the Greek authorities about the hook mounted? I heard different discussions about this topic and I do not know if I have to get it off the car to avoid the problems or I do not worry.” he wrote.
However, the answers did not have the gift of clarify. While some Internet users pointed out that there is a risk of being fined because of this, others have supported the opposite.
Among the first to respond to this post there was an Internet use who warned that it is very possible to be fined, if they ignore the rule,
“I know a concrete case-some friends with whom I was this year in Greece and they happened. They didn’t even talk to the police!someone wrote.
But others claim that there is no risk. “I was last year in June and December, nobody asked me about it! Neither at customs, nor through cities where I walked ”someone wrote.
“I went to Greece about 10 times and sure about 3 times I had the car with a hook. I did not hear in my life that the Greeks would have a problem with the hook of the car.” someone else has reinforced. But it was contradicted. “Now it is not allowed. The fine is 40 euros. We must pay it!”, wrote a lady. “Have you happened? Did the Greeks be tied to the car’s hook?”asked the contradictory, and the answer was affirmative.
Pros and cons
“I never stopped the police in Greece. That’s why I am very surprised to give you a fine for the hook. But how did they stop you? Routine control?“He insisted.”New law out of 2025”, It was replied again.
“We have a hook and they didn’t tell us anything, but again now if you have a hook must be approved (otherwise I can put you down)”commented someone else. “Well, you don’t find it normal to be approved?”a question came. “Ask how many they have approved from Romania! It costs 650 lei to approve it”, was the answer given.
“What the problem would I use if I use the trailer in the country daily, and now I’m on vacation? Should I take another car?”someone asked unbelieving.
“And in the country you have to approve it, if the police stop you and it is not approved, you take your certificate until you put it down or you approve it.”commented another.
“Now more recently at the rarely if you want to keep it and you have no documents (from the one who took the car you did not have) you have to pay 650 lei or put you down (with all the installation) with a return to another day (the car passed through the last month and paid the hook, although it was so).”someone wrote.
“You are right. The towing hook is to tow something. If you do not have a trailer, you take it down. Insurance companies refuse to compensate or return against the one who has a hook in case of accident. In Romania, everyone believes and put the hook for the protection. It is wrong. wrote another.
Risk of fines
“In Greece the law says that you can have a trailer hook only when you treat the trailer. Every time you leave the trailer you have to dismantle the hook. It is fine! Greek police do not control, and I do not know the law. How is your luck! You can pass you! someone else has reinforced.
“Are you allowed to travel with a carriage hook on the car without having a trailer? There are many drivers who equip their car with a tow hook, even if they do not plan to buy a trailer. I do it in particular for added protection in the event of a rear impact. In other words, whether or not a car has a hook, respecting the traffic distance in traffic is mandatory. There are also cases where the cars remain with a mounted towing hook, even if their owners no longer have a trailer or a caravan.
The legislation on the towing hook does not provide that you are not allowed to travel with a carriage hook, without having a trailer. This is true, at least for the moment, in Romania. However, the requirements of approval and coupling are respected.
Circulation abroad with a car that has towing hook and does not have an attached trailer or caravan can be forbidden. Therefore, check the legislation of the countries in which you are going to transit. In this sense, some manufacturers propose the use of a removable or, more modern towing hook with electric retraction. Therefore, for travelers abroad, you will have to take into account the dismantling of the towing hook ”, It was another point of view.
Not even in front of these arguments, some wanted to be convinced.
“They do not have the Greeks with the hook or the sheets on the windows! Good roads, pleasant vacation!“And “You go quietly, nobody asks you anything. Especially whether or not you have a hook or if you use it or not.”were only two of the many messages that do not take into account the existence of this risk.
What the law of Greece says
The towing hook is necessary for several situations, whether you have a caravan, a boat, you want to transport various things with a trailer, use a trunk or own a company that deals with platforms or car trailers.
Decision no. 1,391 of October 4, 2006 for the Regulation for the application of GEO no. 195/2002 regarding the traffic on public roads, with the modifications and completions in the Decision no. 815 of September 8, 2023, specific in art. 153, Al. 1, the following: “A motor vehicle can tow a single trailer on the public road. The road tractor can be exempted, which can tow two trailers, as well as the vehicles arranged for the formation of a transport car in the tourist localities, provided it is no longer than 25 m and does not travel at a speed greater than 25 km/h ”.n Decision no. 1.075/2021, the phrase “road tractor” was replaced with the expression “agricultural or forestry tractor”.
What conditions should a towing hook meet
Also in the same decision, at art. 154, you also find the conditions to be met by the towing hooks:
“The coupling of a vehicle with one or two trailers, for the formation of a set of vehicles, can only be done if:
- The elements that make up the coupling device are approved and compatible;
- The assembly of vehicles can achieve the minimum ray of transfer of the shooting vehicle;
- The dimensions of the vehicle assembly do not exceed the limits provided by law;
- The coupling elements of the braking, lighting and light signaling equipment are compatible;
- The vehicles that compose the assembly do not touch the passage over the unevenness, to the corners or to change the direction of travel. ”
Therefore, the legislation on the towing hook requires a number of requirements for coupling and traffic on public roads with a car to attach a trailer or caravan.
Approaching the towing hook
Should the tow hook should be approved? For approaching the towing hook, you just have to make a simple and correct decision. All you have to do is buy an original part, from a car store that legally sells hooks and towing accessories, from consecrated producers.
The approval of a tow hook can be checked on the tow hook. As a rule, the producers use a metal plaque, visibly positioned on the hook, on which the information necessary for a control is inscribed: technical characteristics, authorization and producer name.
Regarding the towing hook you will not have to go to RAR to obtain its approval, respectively to use it on public roads in Romania. It should not be mentioned in the identity card of the vehicle (civ). In other words, towing hooks marketed in specialized car stores are already approved by the manufacturer, so they are ready to be installed and use.
At the same time, in addition to approval, towing parts must be compatible with each other, serve your towing usefulness and, last but not least, not endanger traffic on public roads.
What risks are if you do not use a approved hook
If you choose a non -homologous product, you risk both big fines and hidden problems, which can lead to accidents and other material damage. Even if the prices are lower and, in essence, do the same as the approved products, we recommend that you do not buy non -homologous products.
According to the Road Code, the fine for an inhomologed towing hook is between 1,485 – 3,300 lei, to which is added the retention of the registration certificate until its disassembly from the vehicle you drive. You can also receive between 9 and 20 fine points in the fourth grade of road sanctions.
Therefore, when the towing accessories are approved and chosen correctly, not only do you respect the legislation in force, but also benefit from the quality guarantee for a product that you can be sure to do their job according to the technical specifications, the experts write on the auto -edal blog.
